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An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries which do not have a diocese. It is therefore essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more. The ultimate hope is that the region will generate sufficient numbers of Catholics and become stable enough for the Church as to warrant erection as a diocese.

An apostolic vicariate is led by a vicar apostolic who is usually a titular bishop. While such a territory can be classed as particular church, according to canon 371.1 of the Latin Code of Canon Law a vicar apostolic's jurisdiction is an exercise of the jurisdiction of the Pope — that is to say, the territory comes directly under the pope as "universal bishop," and the pope exercises this authority through a "vicar" or delegate. This is unlike the jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop, whose jurisdiction derives directly from his office.

Like any ecclesiastical jurisdiction, an apostolic vicariate may be administered by the bishop of a neighbouring diocese, or even by a priest appointed transitionally as an apostolic administrator. As in a regular diocese, the vicar apostolic may appoint priests as vicars exercising limited jurisdiction over the apostolic vicariate.

An apostolic vicariate is to be distinguished from an apostolic prefecture, a similar type of territory that is usually under the leadership of a priest, which is not yet organised enough to be termed an apostolic vicariate. There is also the even less developed mission sui iuris, under some type of superior. The usual sequence of development is: mission, apostolic prefecture, apostolic vicariate and finally diocese.